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I'll say it over until I'm blue in the face...The product given to the kids is far below what I would call Regiment Standards. It is very muddy visually and no amount of cleaning will fix it. Its a design issue. (IMO) The music is nowhere near the source music and is presented in such a butchered style that only ardent Phantom Phans will appreciate it.

After several years of seeing what some of the staff can do I've come to the conclusion they're in over their heads. Maybe its a confidence issue, but whatever it is, its showing on the field in just about every facet of the show. They are not ready for prime time.

Let's take the Fire of Eternal Glory section...and I emphasis (Section). What once was one of the greatest ballads ever created for drumcorp has now become a whisper of what it once was...to me the ensemble lacks any impact and therefore is a waste of time and talent, given the fact that the rest of the corp is in the background doing nothing. It does not redeem itself at the end of the show and leaves the critics like myself yawning.

The reports PR's death may have been a little premature. It appears a comeback of sorts is in the works.

they are much improved, though I would not liken this to a comeback or anything near it.

Thinking the singing at the end is hokey while not mentioning it at the opening shows that you don’t understand the story of JOA, nor the show concept. If you did, it would be one of your favorite moments.

I'll say it over until I'm blue in the face...The product given to the kids is far below what I would call Regiment Standards. It is very muddy visually and no amount of cleaning will fix it. Its a design issue. (IMO) The music is nowhere near the source music and is presented in such a butchered style that only ardent Phantom Phans will appreciate it.

After several years of seeing what some of the staff can do I've come to the conclusion they're in over their heads. Maybe its a confidence issue, but whatever it is, its showing on the field in just about every facet of the show. They are not ready for prime time.

Let's take the Fire of Eternal Glory section...and I emphasis (Section). What once was one of the greatest ballads ever created for drumcorp has now become a whisper of what it once was...to me the ensemble lacks any impact and therefore is a waste of time and talent, given the fact that the rest of the corp is in the background doing nothing. It does not redeem itself at the end of the show and leaves the critics like myself yawning.

13th is slowly becoming a reality!

Agreed.

The visual is frantic, not cleanable, bad design. They're running all over the place with very little actual drill. Scatter drills are ok once in a while for effect but not the entire show.

I'm all for giving younger people a chance but Will had his chance and should have been let go after Phantasm, also visually a very frantic show. Will fails to bring out the emotions of the original music.

The visual is frantic, not cleanable, bad design. They're running all over the place with very little actual drill. Scatter drills are ok once in a while for effect but not the entire show.

I'm all for giving younger people a chance but Will had his chance and should have been let go after Phantasm, also visually a very frantic show. Will fails to bring out the emotions of the original music.

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I don't know. The elements people are complaining about here are in most other shows I've seen this year. And as for complaint about the props not moving around, I'm very ok with that. They serve their purpose for hiding performers as needed. Many corps' props become too much of the visual focus (i.e. a distraction - have you see the 4 giant, white spaceships/tanks?).

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The difference (IMO) is that most of the other corps above them have effective music, drills and use of props. The scores reflect that. Phantom seems to be doing the very basics to get by. I don't think that's fair to the kids that invest in the program.

While making the top 12 is a goal for some corps, I don't think Phantom going in the other direction is something we would have ever expected. Its beyond disappointing.

At some point you'd think they'd put pride aside and do what's right for the future of the corp. One can only hope.

The difference (IMO) is that most of the other corps above them have effective music, drills and use of props. The scores reflect that. Phantom seems to be doing the very basics to get by. I don't think that's fair to the kids that invest in the program.

While making the top 12 is a goal for some corps, I don't think Phantom going in the other direction is something we would have ever expected. Its beyond disappointing.

At some point you'd think they'd put pride aside and do what's right for the future of the corp. One can only hope.

I highly doubt it’s about pride. I honestly think the leaders believe they are creating a great show and are somehow being slighted by the judges. I have seen this problem personally over the past few years when I was volunteering. There is a disconnect between what is necessary for better placement and the planning, execution, and response to critique by the judges. I heard some serious whining a few years back when judges remarked about the plumes bouncing because the members were not marching smoothly. The reaction was to secure the plumes tighter to the helmets and complain that the judges were being ridiculously picky.

I have also noticed a tendency for the leadership to see something much better in their mind than what is actually occurring on the field. That’s something any music director can tell you is a habit to guard against. I know I had to stay vigilant to hear my groups as they really were and not the Eastman Wind Ensemble or the Cambridge Singers in my mind.

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